Tools for applying tapes to strands



Jam. 2, 195$ H. T. CAMPBELL ETA);

TOOLS FOR APPLYING TAPES T0 STRANDS Filed Feb. 15, 1955 H 7. CAMPBELL J'TESCHE United States Paten TooLs FOR APPLYING TAPES T0 STRANDS Application February 15, 1955, Serial No. 488,315

' 3Claims. (Cl. 205-17 This invention relates to tools for applying tapes to strands and the like, particularly tools for applying tapes of precious metal to wires.

In the'manufacture of certain articles to be employed in the communication arts, to assure satisfactory electn'cal characteristics thereof, it is desirable to form coatings of precious metal thereon. In some instances, the articles which, for example, may be copper oxide varistor discs, may be placed in a sealed tank which is brought to a high vacuum after which the precious metal is caused to vaporize and deposit on the articles. One method of bringing about vaporization of the precious metal begins with the mounting of the precious metal in the form of a tape on a wire placing it in the tank and, subsequent to the creation of the high vacuum therein, passing a high current through the wire, heating it sufficiently to cause the precious metal to vaporize. However, the problem arose regarding an eflicient and economical means of applying tapes 'of precious metal to suitable supports, such as wire, rope, rod or tube.

The present invention is a solution to this problem in the provision of a tool for efficiently and economically applying a metal tape to a wire-like support.

With this and other objects in view, the invention comprises a tool wherein die members are adapted for movement into open positions to receive a wire and an end of a metal tape, and into closed positions to force the metal tape about the wire and into clinging engagement therewith whereby relative movement of the die and wire will cause bending of the tape longitudinally of the wire.

The tool in the present embodiment of the invention includes pivotally connected elements having handle portions disposed in a given plane and die portions disposed at right angles with respect to the plane of the bandle portions. The die members are disposed in the die portions and movable relative to each other into open position to receive the wire and an end of a metal tape which is supported in a track carried by one of the elements and adapted to guide the metal strip to the die.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of the tool applying a metal tape to a wire;

Fig. 2 is a schematic side elevational view of the tool during the operation of forming or applying the metal tape to the wire;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the die members of the tool shown in open positions where they have received the leading end of the metal tape and also the wire;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the tool illustrating longitudinal bending of the tape as it is guided into the die during relative movement of the tool and the wire, and

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the 2,821,293 Patented lan. 28,

track and the adjacent die holder illustrating the formation of the metal tape as *being applied to the wire.

The tool, indicated generally at 10, has two elements 11 and 12 of the general contours shown including handle portions 14 and 15 respectively, die portions 16 and 17 respectively and intermediate portions 18 and 19 which cross each other and have notches 20 and 21 respectively in their upper and lower portions for loose interfitting engagement as illustrated in Fig. 1. A pivot pin 22 connects the elements 11 and 12 at this interfitting section, the grooves 20 and 21 providing sufiicient clearance to allow limited movement of the elements into open positions.' The open positions of the elements are under the control'of a spring 25 which has its ends supported by pins 26 and 27 carried by the inner surfaces of the handle portions 14 and 15 respectively.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the die portions 16 and 17 of the elements 11 and 12 are disposed at right angles with respect to the handle portions 14 and 15 and are adapted to have their parallel inner surfaces closely engage each other when forced into closed positions through manual gripping of the handle portions 14 and 15.

'The die portions 16 and 17 have semi-cylindrical recesses 28 and 29 short of their lower ends which jointly form a cylindrical die machined to close tolerances with respect to a wire, rope, rod or tube 30 and the size and thickness of a metal tape 31 which is to be applied to the article 30. In the present embodiment of the invention, the article 30 is a wire and hereinafter will be identified as a wire. The entrance ends of the recesses 28 and 29 are flared outwardly at 32 and 33 to provide a truncated cone-like entrance end for the die composed of the recesses 28 and 29.

' Atrack 35 U-shaped in cross-section is bent into the contour shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the major portion of the track being parallel with the handle portions 14 and 15 and supported by brackets 36 mounted on the handle portions 14 of the element 11. A mounting plate 37 fixed to the lower end of the track is secured at 38 to the die portion 16 so that during opening and closing of the tool about the pivot 22, the track 35 will move with the element 11 and its exit end 38 will remain in general alignment with the die. Hinged covers 40 are provided for the horizontal and vertical portions of the track 35, these covers being held in closed position by spring-like catches 41 releasable to open the covers when it is desirable to place tapes 31 of material in the track.

Before considering the function of the tool, it should be understood that in the present embodiment of the invention, the article such as the wire 30 may be of a desired length and one or both of its ends may be held in suitable clamps as indicated at 43. The track 35 may be loaded with any desired number of tapes 31 which, in the present embodiment of the invention, are soft gold or silver tapes .002 of an inch thick and one-quarter inch wide.

To begin the operation of the tool, a tape 31 is moved longitudinally of the track 35 while the tool is in its open position to locate the leading end of the tape in the open die recesses 28 and 29 (as illustrated in Fig. 3). The tool is then lowered or positioned with respect to the wire so that the wire will be in the area of the recesses 28 and 29 with the die located at the starting position, for example, near the clamp 43. At this time, the tool may be closed forcing the handle portions 14 and 15 toward each other against the force of the spring 25 closing the die portions and thereby forming the leading end of the tape about the wire with sufficient force to cause it to cling to the wire during movement of the tool longitudinally of the wire. This movement of the tool longitudinally of the wire, or if desired, the wire 3 longitudinally of the tool, will result in the tape moving through the die in a path guided by the track 35 causing the tape to bend longitudinally and to closely and firmly engage the wire.

It is possible, therefore, with the tool .to start the application of the tape at any desired location on the wire and to. terminate the application of the tape at any desired location. The size of the die composed of the recesses 28 and 29 not only produces the positive clinging engagement of the tape with the wire at the starting position but throughout the desired length of the wire, eliminating the need of any holding means for the leading end or" the tape and rendering the product eflicient for the vaporizing process in which it is to be used. It is to, be understood that the above described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised .by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A tool for applying a metal tape to a wire comprising two pivotally connected elements having handle portions disposed in a given plane and die portions disposed in a plane at an angle with respect to the vplane of the handle portions, die members disposed in the die portions and movable during pivotal movement of the elements relative to each other into an open position to receive a wire and an end of a metal tape, and into a closed position to force the metal tape about the wire and into clinging engagement therewith whereby move? ment of the tool relative to the wire will cause bending of the tape longitudinally of the wire, and a track for the metal tape mounted on one of the elements, movable therewith during pivotal and longitudinal movement of the elements relative to the wire and curved at its exit end to guide the tape to the die and to guide the tape to the wire as it begins its bend about the wire in advance of the die.

2. A tool for applying a metal tape to a wire comprise ing two pivotally connected elements having handle portions disposed in a given plane and die portions disposed in a plane at an angle with respect to the plane of the handle portions, die members disposed in the .die portions and movable during pivotal movement of the elements relative to each other into an open position to receive a wire and an end of a metal tape, and into a closed position to force the metal tape about the wire and into clinging engagement therewith whereby movement of the tool relative to the wire will cause bending of the tape longitudinally of the wire, a track for the metal tape mounted on the handle and die portion of one of the elements and curved at its exit end to guide the tape to the die and to guide the tape to the wire as it begins its bend about the wire in advance of the die, and means to urge the elements relative to each other to move the die members into their open positions.

3. A t ol o pply n a m a ape t a wirecq prising die members when closed having a centerline disposed in a given plane and a cavity adapted to receive a Wire and force a metal tape about the wire and into clinging engagement therewith, two elements having handle portions and die supporting portions, the die supporting portions being parallel with each other, supporting their respective die members adjacent free ends thereof and extending at like angles from said plane, the handle portions having adjacent ends integral with the other ends of the die supporting portions and lying in a plane which is at an angle with respect to the die supporting portions and parallel with the plane of the centerline of the die members, a pivot connecting the handle portions of the elements whereby the handle portions may be moved relative to each other to move the die supporting portions to move the die members into open and closed positions, the handle portions being movable into the closed position, when the die members are disposed upon opposite sides of a wire and a metal tape, to close the die members and cause them to bend the tape into clinging engagement with the wire and to efiect continued bending of the tape longitudinally of the wire during relative movement of the tool and the wire, and means carried by the portions of one of the elements to support the metal tape and guide it to the die members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 149,274 Weston Mar. 31, 1874 195,731 Tasker Oct. 2, 1877 613,355 Burton Nov. 1, 1898 1,019,805 Koenig Mar. 12, 1912 1,069,005 Hairston July 29, 1913 1,600,747 Yurkovitch Sept. 21, 1926 1,627,307 Bernard May 3, 1927 1,699,805 ,Ocko Jan. 22, 1929 1,700,454 Schumacher Jan. 29, 1929 2,208,819 Smith July 23, 1940 

